P40-kilo rice sold at MRT, LRT soon

The availability of Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosks selling rice at P40 per kilo will start on Tuesday, a Department of Agriculture (DA) official announced at a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday.

DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra said they would be rolling out its Rice-for-All program, selling the grain at P40 per kilo, in two stations, one at North Avenue station of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) and one at the Monumento station of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1) next week.

Guevarra said the DA decided to roll out the program at North Avenue and Monumento stations to maximize the train stations’ foot traffic.

“We observed heavy commuter traffic at these stations... We took foot traffic and accessibility into account when selecting them,” Guevarra said in a mix of Filipino and English.

He added that, in addition to the North Avenue and Monumento stations, the Department of Transportation also recommended the MRT-3’s Guadalupe station, as well as the LRT-1’s Taft Avenue and PITX stations, for the rollout of the P40 per kilo rice.

Earlier, Guevarra said P40 per kilo of rice would also be available at major public markets.

“Currently, we are coordinating with the following major markets in NCR for the rollout: Kamuning Market, Malabon Central Market, New Las Piñas City Public Market, Pasay City Public Market, Balintawak Market, Cartimar Market, Pateros Grace Marketplace, Maypajo Public Market, Paco Market,” Guevarra said last Wednesday.

Guevarra stated that these kiosks will provide Rice-for-All at the affordable price of P40 per kilo, available from Tuesdays to Saturdays, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

“The number of public markets (selling P40 per kilo of rice) will eventually increase as local government units are interested in setting up Rice-For-All outlets,” Guevarra said.

She also assured the public that DA officials tasted the rice to ensure that consumers would patronize it.